Island Snow

We have been hit by an unusual snow-storm that has snuck in over the Olympic Mountains. We are not used to this type of weather. Our winter weather mostly consists of a slow drizzle of rain and fog with moderate temperatures. Where is our green lawn???

Lauren is enjoying the magical winter wonder-land. And the snow-suit that Grandmama bought her in Finland last December is coming in handy. Never mind that they did NOT have any snow in Finland for Christmas last year!

Exploring the snowy forest wilderness (although it is really just our back yard... you can see the house in the background...).

Lauren loves humming birds and feeds them all summer. Last year we had a pair of Annas Humming Birds that stayed over winter with us rather than migrating south. This year we have a whole colony of them, snow or not.

Playing In The Snow

We have had more snow these last few days than we have ever seen in the eight years that we have lived on Fox Island.

Lauren is really into making snow angels...

And hiking in the snowy forest...

And checking out her Fort in snowy conditions...

And sliding on snow...

Is anyone out there?...

Climbing on top of snowy boulders...

Belly-crawling in the snowy wilderness....

Christmas Hams....

What else can we really say? The girls were goofing around with their Christmas hats posing for photos....

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the Holmberg household.

Lauren & Mommy went to Seattle a few weeks ago to see a production of The Nutcracker. Lauren loved The Nutcracker and she loves ballet. Here Lauren is investigating the Nutcracker that stands by our Christmas tree. Olivia is simply trying to determine if things look the same up-side-down....

Our Christmas tree is a bit "top-heavy" on ornaments because as Olivia or Lauren pick them off we just move them a bit higher. But then Christmas is really a time for the kids....

Kitchen Helper

Olivia loves to explore in the kitchen. Amazingly enough, once she is done with the bowls or pots or pans she makes sure to put them all back where they belong. We think she will be our little organizer (unlike her sister Lauren).

Olivia & Her Friend Pooh

Just like Lauren, Olivia loves her Pooh Bear. She calls him "Pooh Bah".

It is hard to believe Olivia is already 15 months old!

Happy Thanksgiving

Olivia found Thanksgiving to be quite to her liking. Especially all the food. Lauren tasted a little bit of everything but then she wanted her avocado. Not Olivia..... she found everything quite delicious. Thanksgiving rocks!!!

Here Lauren is watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade on TV with Texas Grandma who was visiting.

Olivia had a great time all Thanksgiving Weekend. She is becoming so animated and full of personality ---& demanding.... but she is just so cute about it that she gets away with it.

Daily Routine

Time is flying by. We can't believe it is almost Christmas again. Our 4th one with Lauren (Dawn spent her first Christmas with her in Kazakhstan picking her up at 8 months of age) and our first with Olivia. Here Olivia is trying on Lauren's boots. Olivia wants to do everything that Lauren does.

Olivia has been watching Daddy get ready for work each morning. This particular morning she got a hold of Daddy's tie. Is this how it goes???

Lauren has very definite preferences for reading material for certain occasions. There are times when only The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft will do.....